Swimming team begins first season since 2003
By Greg Patuto | Published by Jan. 29, 2018
Kean swimmer dives in the pool looking to win her race. Photo by Larry Levanti
The Kean University women’s swimming team is participating in their first season as a varsity sport since 2003.
This is an exciting time for members of the team, the coaching staff, fans of swimming and Kean as a whole. Although the Cougars have fallen short in their first four meets, they are doing a lot of good things as a team.
“My team is always very supportive of each other during meets,” head coach Barbara Perkins said. “They always cheer for each other and are happy when their teammates take off time from their events.”
For Perkins, being the coach to bring back a program can be tough but it is a challenge that she is ready for and believes that can be done successfully.
“There are a lot of things that go into building a program again, it’s not just writing worksouts and going to practice,” Perkins said. “There are so many little things that you don’t realize. Then recruiting is another wide world, so it has been a challenge but I am up to it.”
After being dormant for 14 years, the first season back is never easy but Kean is working hard every day to be successful. Hard work and dedication are what is going to put the Cougars back on the map.
Swimming has not been offered as a varsity sport since 2003 because of the renovations to the pool inside of the D’Angola Gymnasium. The athletic department felt that if there was no facility for the sport, then it should not be offered.
“The team has really come together as a unit,” Perkins said. “They are all working hard to motivate each other and push each other in practice. They are motivated to work hard through the second half of the season.”
In that second half, Kean has conference matchups with William Paterson University and TCNJ while facing non- conference opponents, Hunter College, Lehman College and FDU-Florham.
“We can be successful for the rest of the season by continuing to stay motivated and celebrating progress,” Perkins said. “I have high expectations for what this team can do; I believe in them.”
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